Bowling Green, Kentucky

On the following pages, you'll find restaurants in Bowling Green, Kentucky, restaurant reviews, things to do in Bowling Green, events, and attractions. First thing you should know about Bowling Green is this: You must eat at Double Dogs! Look for the reviews and you'll see why.

When you have to eat gluten free, you eventually get to the point where you only want to go to restaurants you completely (to the tune of 100%) trust. Given the fact that one “miscue” can mean up to two weeks of pain and flu-like symptoms, can you blame us?!

Granted, as my husband can attest, some restaurant choices are costlier than others. But what’s costly financially pales considerably to what’s costly physically.

Outback Steakhouse is one of those restaurants that falls under the category of being a little pricier than other restaurants. However, the fact that they also happen to have earned one of the best reputations for gluten free dining in the country makes me feels completely safe dining in their restaurant.

Not only do they have a separate Gluten Free Menu, their staffs have been trained on what to do, what to touch, what not to do, and what not to touch.

When my food was brought out, the manager, herself, even brought it to me to let me know that they were treating it as a special meal. While I hated for them to have to go the extra mile, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t mean anything.

One of the Best Tasting Steaks Anywhere

I ordered a steak, grilled shrimp, and a baked sweet potato. The size of the sweet potato was amazing! Cracker Barrel’s sweet potatoes should be this big.

Every single bite was completely delicious – something I’ve come to expect from Outback.

The Outback Steakhouse in Bowling Green is located at 3260 Scottville Rd. and it’s out of this world. The people are exceptionally friendly and the restaurant couldn’t be any cleaner. Whether you have to eat gluten free or not, Outback Steakhouse is a wonderful place to enjoy a relaxing, delicious meal.

My only complaint is the same one I have with all restaurants – two glasses of tea should not cost $6.00.

You’d think the easiest restaurant reviews to write would be the ones for the best restaurants, wouldn’t you? Simply say, “I loved it, you’ll love it, now go!” and move on, right?

If only it were that easy. In all actuality (for me, anyway), the better the restaurant, the tougher the review. I don’t want to overlook anything or leave anything out – so I wind up stressing over every little detail.

I am so in love with Mellow Mushroom that I’m going to attempt to cover it all without missing a beat.

First of all, everyone at Mellow Mushroom was friendly, warm, and upbeat. They seemed genuinely thrilled to have us as guests. The hostess greeted us with a huge smile and made us kind of feel like she’d been expecting us.

As for our server… she was one of the friendliest and sweetest servers we’ve ever had.

She left such an impression on me that I still remember her name – Jordan. For me, this is huge because I’m pretty terrible with names. She was knowledgeable, sweet, and lovely in every way. Unlike a lot of servers in other restaurants, she completely understood what it meant to be gluten free and provided me with great information. On a scale of 1-10, she flew right past 10.

{Review continued below the gorgeousness…}

Outstanding Appetizer: The Capri!

We took her advice on an appetizer and were floored by it. O.M.G… it was one of the best, freshest, most delicious appetizers I’ve ever had. It was called The Capri (Vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil drizzled with a balsamic glaze. Served with a side of spring mix tossed with an herb vinaigrette dressing.) and it was too Heavenly to even be believed.

So much flavor!

Not only was it one of the most delicious and memorable appetizers I’ve ever had, it was one of the most memorable dishes I’ve ever had in a restaurant. I’m not kidding, it was just ridiculously good.

Mellow Mushroom is Very Gluten Free-Friendly

One of the things that excited me the most about visiting Mellow Mushroom was the fact they (unlike so many restaurants) have a gluten free crust available. You can have any combination of toppings that are also gluten free and feel like a normal person doing something as normal as eating pizza!

It’s something far too many people take for granted.

I simply can’t tell you enough how wonderful it is for a restaurant to acknowledge the needs of their guests and go out of their way to accommodate them. It makes me want to throw all of my business to them!

Gluten Free Pizza at Mellow Mushroom in Bowling Green, Kentucky

We couldn’t quite decide between the delicious toppings and combos available so went went “halfies” – half of the pizza was Kosmic Karma and half was Mighty Meaty. Although the Kosmic Karma was good, the Mighty Meaty beat it by a smidgen. It was just stupid good.

The toppings, sauce, cheese… all are uncommonly delicious.

It tasted as though the tomatoes used for the sauce were plucked right off a vine out back. Every bite brought about the same reaction, “Mmmmm, so much flavor!”

Mellow Mushroom – Fun Atmosphere and Delicious Food!

The Mellow Mushroom Vibe

While, if we were to assign “weightiness” to each wonderful attribute, the quality and taste of the food and the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff would earn the highest points, I just have to say something about the overall vibe of Mellow Mushroom. We’re a sports loving family, so I loved that there were sports on the tvs. I also loved the bright, upbeat colors and overall fun and funky decor.

It was genuinely unlike other restaurants, and I got a huge kick out of that.

In summary, If you’ve never eaten at Mellow Mushroom (click the link for locations), do yourself a huge favor and find the one closest to you today. Whether you have to eat gluten free, choose to eat vegetarian, or pretty much eat anything you feel like eating – you’re going to find so many things to love at Mellow Mushroom.

Whatever you do, don’t forget The Capri as an appetizer!

The Bowling Green Mellow Mushroom is located at 1035 Chestnut Street. If you (like me) live in Owensboro, hold on to your hat, we’re getting one of our own Mellow Mushrooms. It’ll be downtown and, mark my word, I will be there at least once a week. I’ll be the one with “The Capri” one one side of her and a Gluten Free Pizza on the other.

Please click here to read about how dining out at Mellow Mushroom in the month of September can help end childhood hunger in America. The words “Childhood Hunger in America” simply should not exist should they?

You never know who you’re going to meet when you’re walking around downtown Bowling Green. On a recent trip, we met the lovely flamingo above. It’s all fun and games until you realize the flamingo is better dressed than you are.

If you get a chance to hang out in one of Kentucky’s downtowns, jump at the chance. Among other Kentucky cities, Bowling Green, Louisville, Morgantown, Greenville, Lexington, Central City, Paducah, and my own hometown, Owensboro, have wonderful downtown areas. Walk around, stop inside the shops (it’s always the right time to support local businesses and it doesn’t get much more local than your own downtown!), and soak up the history and unmistakable vibe.

Downtowns have a way of marrying the “old” with the “new” in a way that’s truly fascinating, so don’t just drive past the next downtown you see… get to know it better.

If you read Genuine Kentucky regularly and/or follow any of my Twitter or Instagram accounts, you know I’m never happier than when I’m taking pictures. Whether it’s cats, food, trees, coffee, birds, or any other personal passions – when I’m looking at the world through my camera, there’s always a big happy smile on my face.

Photography has become one of my favorite pastimes over the past few years. Fortunately, I live in a state as beautiful as Kentucky, so there’s always something extra special to photograph.

I’ve always kind of felt disappointed when the weather doesn’t cooperate with me. I prefer the sun to be looking down at whatever it is I’m looking at – to provide just the right lighting… God’s lighting!

However, I’ve also found that you can actually get some pretty amazing photos when the skies are overcast or even when there’s a storm abrewing, as my grandmother would say.

These pictures have reminded me of this fact. Michael and I recently spent a Saturday in Bowling Green. We walked around the beautiful downtown – enjoying and, of course, photographing absolutely everything. I’ll add the rest of the pictures either today or next Monday, but I wanted to put these up first.

The darker skies provided a dramatic backdrop for the pictures and all the fretting about “not having enough lighting” proved to be a waste of time. In fact, I’m pretty crazy about the way the droplets of water show up against the dark clouds and the overall “effect” of the pictures makes me smile.

Beautiful Fountain Square Park

Fountain Square Park, in downtown Bowling Green, is a real beauty. As a tree lover, I just kind of walk around in a daze looking at the gorgeous trees. I’m also a huge fan of the beautiful statues in the park. You can read more about Fountain Square Park on Visit BGKy.com.

If you’ve never seen Fountain Square Park, or if it’s been awhile, I hope you’ll go spend some time in the park soon. Spend time admiring the statues, reading the signs, and… by all means!… appreciating the huge trees.

There are restaurant reviews I’m happy to write about, then there are restaurant reviews I am thrilled to write about. Count this review of Wheatless in Bowling Green among the “thrilled” reviews.

Whether you have to eat gluten free (like moi) or, for health conscious reasons, choose to eat gluten free all or most of the time… Wheatless is going to leave you just as speechless as it did me.

Heck, even if you have never even thought about the phrase gluten free – let alone followed the restricted diet – Wheatless will blow you away.

Excellent food does that after all.

Back when I could eat gluten/wheat, one of my favorite things on the planet was the Mushroom Swiss Burger at Hardee’s, so when I saw the Mushroom Swiss Burger on the menu at Wheatless, my plan was set.

When you order one of their burgers or sandwiches, you get your choice of a side. Another of my pre-gluten free obsessions were onion rings, so when I saw them on the menu, I practically sang the words to the adorable girl behind the counter.

Michael ordered the Down Under Chicken Sandwich (chicken, bacon, mushrooms, cheese, honey mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions) and a side of Macaroni and Cheese. He also added a side of Cheesy Bacon Potatoes to our order because he’s my hero.

{Review Continued Below…}

Wheatless: Bowling Green’s First Gluten Free Restaurant

When I know I’ll be writing a review, I love to try as many different menu items as possible. Most of the time (as is certainly the case with Wheatless), I know I’ll be going back often enough to try the rest!

Before getting to the actual review, I just want to say that this type of restaurant is both a blessing and a dream come true to people like me, my oldest daughter, and the many other people who have to eat a gluten free diet. For so many of us, even a crumb can lead to days of pain and sickness. Yes… one crumb.

Serious business.

So, to have a restaurant where you have zero fears of cross contamination, zero questions like, “Well, the menu says this is gluten free, but what if it’s on the same griddle as food that isn’t…”

No worries. No fears. The only question? What do I eat first?!

Everything was so uncommonly delicious, the only way to do this review is to take it one thing at a time.

{Review Continued Below…}

Delicious Mushroom Swiss Burger and Onion Rings

The Mushroom Swiss Burger

First of all, the buns at Wheatless are simply outstanding. They aren’t just the best gluten free bread I’ve ever had – they are the best hamburger buns I’ve ever had, period. They were perfectly lightly grilled – leaving them warm but soft enough to enjoy each bite along with the delicious burger.

The burger, itself, was extra special. It certainly didn’t taste like any burger you can get out anywhere. It was just an excellent burger and I thoroughly enjoyed and celebrated every bite. We won’t tell Hardee’s, but it blew their Mushroom Swiss Burger out of the water.

{Review Continued Below…}

Gluten Free Onion Rings Mean a Renewed Obsession

The Onion Rings

If you’ve read many of my restaurant reviews, you know that I used to be obsessed with onion rings – to the point of insanity. I could have gone to the swankiest restaurant in the world and only raved about their onion rings (if, that is, they were rave-worthy).

Thanks to Wheatless, the insane obsession is back! These gluten free onion rings blew my mind. In fact, they’re blowing it again right now, just remembering them. They smelled like Heaven to this onion ring fanatic – as soon as they were put in front of me, I nearly melted out of my seat. Appearance and taste-wise, they remind me a great deal of the legendary Bloomin’ Onion at Outback.

Except I can eat these!

In fact, I personally think these onion rings are better than any Bloomin’ Onion I’ve ever had – or any onion rings for that matter. They’re perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked.

It’s like Santa came early.

As I sat there in front of a Mushroom Swiss Burger and Onion Rings, I was very much like a kid on Christmas morning… with “toys” I was convinced I’d never have.

{Review Continued Below…}

Cheesy Bacon Potatoes

Cheesy Bacon Potatoes

One word… bacon. I love it when restaurants have plenty of options for sides. Unfortunately, most don’t, do they? They’ll offer you onion rings, fries, or coleslaw. At Wheatless, your choice of sides for lunch or dinner are…

Cheesy Bacon Potatoes

Mac and Cheese

Onion Rings

Fries

Fresh Fruit

Steamed Vegetables

The cheesy bacon potatoes were extra delicious, but surprisingly enough, I’ll tell you something that was even more delicious.. the Mac and Cheese.

Down Under Chicken Sandwich with Mac and Cheese

Macaroni and Cheese

Holy cats, the Mac and Cheese was so out of this world delicious it made my jaw drop. I kept having to pick it back up off the floor after each bite. I’ve never had better mac and cheese ever – with gluten or without.

It is just exceptionally, spectacularly, uncommonly delicious and that’s all I have to say about that.

Creamy, delicious, warm, and wonderful. I guess it wasn’t all I had to say after all.

{Review Continued Below…}

The Down Under Chicken Sandwich

I was glad Michael ordered a chicken sandwich because I was anxious to taste their chicken. You can tell a lot about a restaurant simply by tasting their chicken – if it’s bland, it’s a sign the cook’s heart isn’t in it. If it’s flavorful and could, if it had to, stand on its own – creating a delicious experience all by itself – then you know the cook is in it to win it.

This chicken was rockin’ the Casbah. It was delicious and so was the honey mustard.

Michael eats a lot of chicken sandwiches, so when he said, “This is the best chicken sandwich I’ve had in a very long time,” I only had one thing to say… gimme a bite.

He was right on the money.

Seriously, every bite we had was memorable and worth writing home about.

{Review Continued Below…}

Deliciously Lemony Lemon Blossoms

Gluten Free Mixes, Croutons, Pizza Crust, Bread, Cookies…

I also love the fact that they have a lot of different gluten free mixes (Pancake Mix, Flour Blend, Fish Breading), breads, and desserts for sale. They even sell big, beautiful gluten free pizza crusts!

On this trip, I tried to reign myself in. I bought a bag of Lemon Blossoms and one bite told me I’d made an excellent decision.

Have you ever had the Lemon Loaf Slices at Starbucks? Oh, man, I fondly remember them. These Lemon Blossoms remind me of those Heavenly beauties – but with the delicious sugar glaze all over each blossom. Ridiculously delicious.

On my next trip, I’m going to grab the Fish Breading, some of their buns, a pizza crust, and more lemon blossoms.

I’ve decided not to reign myself in next time.

{Review Continued Below…}

Gluten Free Mixes, Pizza Crusts, and Desserts

Vegetarians will also find Wheatless to be a dream come true, as will people who have to follow their own restrictive diets due to health concerns. Their menu is clearly marked and easy to follow – you can find plenty of wonderful things to eat while dodging your own personal allergens.

Wheatless Also Offers Breakfast!

The breakfast menu at Wheatless sounds as extraordinary and delicious as the lunch/dinner menu is. Here’s a small sampling:

Omelettes

Toaster Sandwiches

French Toast

Banana Nut Pancakes

Pancakes with Chocolate Chips, Chocolate Syrup, and Whipped Topping

Eggs

Bacon

Sausage

Country Ham

Wait. Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Chocolate Syrup and Whipped Topping? That is everything that is good and pure and decent in the world.

Next time.

I 110% recommend you head to Wheatless in Bowling Green for your next meal (or meals… heck there are plenty of places to shop, make a day of it!). Whether you have to eat gluten free or simply love GREAT food, this will quickly become one of your all-time favorite restaurants.

Read more about Wheatless on their website and check out their great menu. I’m just so excited to actually have a gluten free restaurant within reach!

Be sure to tell everyone you know all about Wheatless – especially the gluten free crowd. Like I said before, this is really and truly a blessing for us, and a delicious one, at that.

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